Chiang Mai Ram Hospital Visit

admin — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 01:40:05 +0000

Originally posted on Travel Asia - Travel Europe| Bangkok to Krakow.com

Photo from Flickr by: jcestnik

We knew Chiang Mai Ram Hospital existed. Did not have any plans to visit it though. At the outset let me say everyone is doing just fine. Last Thursday afternoon our little angel came down with a tummy bug. It was just days ago that I was thinking “Wow she’s done really well, five weeks and not even a sniffle”… I guess it is thoughts like these that should have the alarm bells ringing.

Sophie came down with a slight fever in the afternoon. We attributed it to teething. When she went to bed early we thought we would keep an eye on her temperature while she slept it out. Her temperature kept rising and at after an hours sleep she woke feeling completely out of sorts. Then followed a major case of the collywobbles. We cleaned her up and headed off to the hospital. The security guard that hangs around our guest house must have been off on a snack run but luckily the local hairdresser was in. We were just going to use her phone when her friend, Moht (meaning Ant in English), said that she will take us to the Chiang Mai Ram Hospital. Not only did she drive us to the hospital, but she waited with us, interpreted for us and brought us home. Extremely kind.

Within an hour of us deciding to go to the doctor we were home safe and sound with our angel re-hydrated, medicated and sound asleep. Sophie was registered at the hospital, seen by nurses, prodded, weighed and measured by an English speaking doctor and found to have a stomach bug. All of which Sophie found highly amusing.

The last 3 days have been spent in our room. Now that Sophie is getting better we’re dealing with a slight case of sleep deprivation and cabin fever. Ho hum.

It has been another good experience within Thailand’s health care system. The whole experience set us back just under $30 AUD, including the medication, and at all times the hospital staff have all been highly helpful and professional. It just hammers home how important worldwide holiday insurance is, although most minor treatments are not too expensive it’s always good to know we can claim that money back. When we booked our insurance we found the best deal at InsureandGo and as long as we keep our receipts we wont be destroying our budget…

It has reinforced our decision to stick to the main tourist route while we travel with a baby.

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No we haven’t been transported forward 543 years, this is the current year in Thailand. An interesting little fact is that the Thai Calendar begins with Buddhas birth 2551 years ago. 95% of the population are Buddhist, and with the abundance of Wat (Temples) and Spirit Houses it is not hard to believe. So it begins with the birth of Buddha, but where do Wat and Spirit Houses come into it?

Gaining an understanding of Thai Buddhism will surely have your head spinning. One thing is for sure and that is that Thai culture is entrenched with their faith, traditions and rituals, all practiced on a daily basis. From our short stay here we have come to see the austere side of faith through visiting the Buddhist Temples and our daily monk spotting. The monks are literally everywhere but nowhere. You can see by our photos how elusive these guys are, turning corners, disappearing behind trees. Then there are the ordinary Thai faithful, all 95% of them. Buddhism is a way of life for people here. It is not to say that they are all self denying and self sacrificing individuals. They are mostly accepting and compassionate though. Where you or they are on the path of enlightenment is not important to them and, with the ultimate Buddha offering being that of mental betterment, they are self development gurus!

Some basic googling finds that the primitive people of Thailand practiced Animism, which includes ancestor worship and brings life to all plants, animals and natural forces. In addition there were some influences from Hinduism that came through Cambodia. But when Buddhism came on the scene in 218 BE (Buddhist Era) the Thais took it on as their formal religion, retaining many of the former ways of Animism and Hinduism. This is reminiscent of Christianity and the conversion of pagan tribes in Europe, adopting the primitive traditions as their own. The operative and differentiating word here is converting. That is one big difference between Buddhism and other religions – It does not reject other religions. Further research shows that there are several schools of Buddhism followed today. Thailand, along with South East Asia and Sri Lanka, practice Theravada Buddhism. Also know as the Doctrine of the Elders, it is the oldest and most conservative school of Buddhism. This is the branch that has taken seed in the west. Theravada Buddhism interwoven with the folk religion and its animistic and Hindu belief systems makes for a highly pious and superstitious culture.

Here, prayers and rituals envelope each and every day and special occasion. The respect, simplicity and humbleness of these traditions makes you feel apart of something larger. It is actually very similar to being in a country that is solely Catholic, like Poland. There is something bonding and special when people come together to celebrate and mourn days, seasons and events in the same manner. The sameness is very comforting.

Our favourite sight has been the ubiquitous Spirit House and the offerings and trinkets that adorn desks and dashboards. Usually about the size of a giant doll house, just about every house, business and building has a spirit house erected out front, as a little shrine to the spirits about. The inhabitants of the property set out offerings of food and drink, incense and candles. For HBO viewers it is as if you have stepped onto the set of Rome, substituting the Roman Senators for Buddhist monks and brutality for compassion. The parallels between folk religions are interesting. This type of belief system is found amongst most hunter-gatherer, tribal and village cultures around the world. It seems that somewhere along the line we became disconnected.

Then there are the Buddhist temples or Wat. The Wat of Chiang Mai are extremely enchanting and ethereal. To some they may seem overly ornate and at times ostentatious, however they are clearly a reflection of devotion and honour. Chiang Mai boasts approximately 300 Wat, strewn among the roads and soi of the Old Town and beyond. Being a place of prayer, meditation and offering they are also used as a meeting place for the community for ceremonies, discussions and gatherings, fairs and fundraisers, food courts and support groups. You name it. A must see is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai, Wat Chiang Man, and Wat Phan An, where the Sunday Walking Street Market food court is held. There you will most definitely be approached by a helpful tourist guide that will suggest other temples that are a must see within and beyond the gates of the Old Town. Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep up on Doi Suthep is a main attraction within Chiang Mai. To get there requires a beautiful scenic ride up the mountain, and make sure it is a clear day to fully appreciate the view of Chiang Mai and the valley from above. 309 steps later, we made our wishes, circled the Chedi, made our offerings of flowers, candles and incense and had Zofia receive a much needed blessing for protection from the local monk in the form of a white string around her wrist.

The Wat of Chiang Mai can also offer a wonderful place to cool down, reflect or simply relax. In the midst of all the history and the mish mash of cultural influences we found our favourite temple, Wat Lok Molee. Right on the banks of the Old Town moat, it is a gem hidden from the roar of the street traffic. It is peaceful and beautiful… ah the serenity of some family time.

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Everyone has a tooth story. Mine is the painful tale of 3 root canals, 15 injections in one sitting and an aching pocket. My teeth have been the biggest bane and pain of my life. For as long as I remember every check up would have the dentist rattling of a sequence of numbers and letters that would make a code breakers ears bleed. I would cringe with anticipation, awaiting each pronouncement “Root canal, root canal, major cavity, infection, etcetera, etcetera”. Then my calendar would be booked out for the next year.

Someone once told me that Europeans have bad teeth because of the poor water quality at the time we were growing up. Not sure how true that is but my mother, brother and I all have bad teeth. My father doesn’t. Maybe the water was better on his side of the street. Either way, my teeth suck so when we decided to go to Thailand, I thought I’d further research the rumours of good dental care in this foreign land.

In my research I stumbled across the concept of Medical Tourism. Thailand boasts a strong medical tourism industry and it appears to be growing every year. My experience in this regard has been exceptional. Firstly, when we had our vaccinations done at the Travel Clinic in Bangkok and now with my dental makeover in Chiang Mai. Yay, not going to end up on 60 minutes with a dental disaster story!

Grace Dental Clinic, although a little expensive by local Thai standards, was at least 1/3 of the price of what you would pay in Australia for top specialist care and the latest technological innovations. No I am not taking commission for that plug. Still a tuk tuk driver in training :) I’ve never been to a specialist dentist so this was a phenomenal experience. I was directed from the Family Dentist, to the Cleaning Dentist, to the X-Ray Dentist, to the Root Canal Dentist and back to the Family Dentist all within several weeks. In and out.

The reception staff and doctors speak good English. However, a smidgen of Thai goes a long way… I managed to bite the X-Ray Dentist, and embarrassingly asked who I assumed was the Dentist, “What will we be doing today?” to which she replied hesitantly “Umm… well I will be assisting the Dentist”. Of course I thought and I think I will just lie here quietly trying not to bite anyone. Its funny because I am the worst with the nuances of English so when my questions get answered so literally I feel like I just got a little dose of my medicine. I always forget to keep conversations simple.

But I digress.. Basically, the clinic was clean, professional and welcoming. In addition, relatively speaking, for the price of one root canal I received the root canal, 3 crowns, 3 fillings, a deep clean and the X-Rays. If you’re saving up money for that next visit to the dentist why not book yourself a ticket to Thailand and have a holiday while your teeth get a pearly white makeover.

So I have my chompers back in good nick and steak is back on the menu! And on that note does anyone know of any good steak houses in Thailand?

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Zofia not refusing solids… will wonders ever cease! Her exotic tastes are making their appearance, and although she still picks her days, she has taken a great liking to mango, papaya, paw paw, croissant, eggs, noodles and rice! Oh and there is the humble cucumber and the new favourite, mango and yoghurt shake.

It has been such a blessing to be still breastfeeding. I can not imagine this journey with bottles, sterilising solution, formula and the rest of the laboratory. In addition to breastfeeding, we offer her a range of non-chokeable foods, albeit coughable, from the meals we order when we are out. All of our food haunts are especially helpful with providing us with extra cutlery, plates and the fall back banana. They are very understanding of the sticky mess left behind!

Zofia has become very mobile with her Star Wars AT-AT Walker styles and pulling herself up on chairs and beds and walls. She is a real danger junkie! We did not expect her to be moving around as much as she is at this stage in her short life, which is making our travels a bit rougher and tougher then we anticipated. The stroller is great but once we come to a standstill she wants to get out and explore. This proves difficult with the packs of dogs lurking, open sewers and general dirtiness associated with humidity and a city in the tropics. Don’t get me wrong, Chiang Mai is very clean considering. The street sweepers are out in full force all day long but so are all the stray dogs (or are they strays?). It is clean enough for shoes but unfortunately not for little hands and feet. Although she doesn’t get to explore the city as much as she would like she definitely rules the roost back in our room.

As expected our days are ruled by our little look sow. As long as we stick to her nap times then the whole of the family is happy. She is becoming well known among the neighbourhood and it has given us plenty of opportunities to mingle with the locals. ‘Sophia!, Sophia!’ they call. Then its holds and cuddles and, kisses and waves and, funny noises and ‘Bye Bye Mama!’. And there is plenty of advice too. Zofia has even made a little friend down the street, 9 month old Guan. They chat, hold hands and give each other a polite whack every other day. The mothers enjoy it too.

So far, so good. Apart from keeping Zofias hands clean and entertained in the pram shes slotted into our life in Chiang Mai quite well. Keep on smiling sweetheart!

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After our first week in Bangkok we decided to skip the southern beaches and head for Chiang Mai, the “Rose of the North”. We had decided ahead of time that we would stay for at least 4 weeks in Chiang Mai and use it as a base to explore the surrounding country side and also to allow us to ease into our travels with Zofia!

“Why skip the beaches?” you may ask, well, we originally wanted to go to a beach somewhere and relax for a couple of weeks, however after the first few days in Bangkok we realised that with Zofia around, theres not going to be too much relaxing going on. So we decided to get straight in to it!

As I posted previously, Chiang Mai has a much cooler climate and vibe compared to Bangkok. It is set in a valley sandwhiched between the mountain, Doi Suthep, and the Ping River. The historical centre is the walled Old City, which is surrounded by a moat and remnants of an ancient wall. Modern Chiang Mai has expanded in all directions, although a majority of guest houses and the associated restaurants and cafes are clustrered around the Thapae gate of the Old City.

We have based ourselves in the Old City at the CM Blue House. Tim and Tony, the owners, are fantastic and they gave us a great deal for the month. We also have wifi included so we don’t have to go cold turkey just for the moment.

Our first week in Chiang Mai felt very similar to moving into a new suburb or city. We spent a majority of the week out and about walking, familiarising ourselves with the neighbourhood and working out where the local supermarket/fruit stall/doctor/dentist are all located. And then there was the task of finding the best places to eat and/or relax with an iced coffee or cocoa. I know, tough gig, but someone has to do it! :)

On our second day here we stumbled upon the Ratchdamnoen Walking Street, where they close the whole street off for a market from sunset to midnight. It is a great way to spend a Sunday evening and it is enjoyed by both the locals and farang. We of course were enticed by the food stalls!

Now that we are more familiar with our surroundings and have a routine going with Zofia, we are feeling a bit more adventourous and like modern Chiang Mai will look to expand our horizons a bit further.

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Character, Comfortable, Compact, Convivial, Cool…

We chugged into Chiang Mai on the overnight sleeper, arriving at approximately 8 in the morning. The difference in climate was one of the first things that Madzia noticed! The pace was also noticeably slower, as we walked down the platform, preparing ourselves for a barrage of tuktuk touts, and instead meeting a trickle.

A short taxi ride to our guest house revealed a city full of character, with a comfortable, almost familiar feel to it. Don’t get me wrong, it is still fairly hectic, compared to say, Geelong, however it seems like the perfect foil to Bangkok, and we are looking forward to exploring the maze-like soi and various wat.

A surprising discovery on the first day was the UN Irish Pub showing live Rugby, Rugby League, AFL and the Euro Cup! With four weeks here in Chiang Mai I’ll be able to follow the annual rugby lessons handed to the northern hemisphere sides and the beginning of the tri-nations.

So as we settled ourselves into our room, we looked forward with anticipation to experiencing the local cuisine, exploring this city full of temples and being entertained by the game they play in heaven.

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Chiang Mai Ram Hospital Visit